The National tribune., 1887-12-01
THE PARTISAN CRY AGAIN.

hatinG press last summer IN It's ailenpl 10
introduce dissension into the ranks Of our
Order had eifectually silenced il, but there
have been recent indications that the at
tempt is to be renewed with as much fierce
ness and as little regard for the truth as
ever.
Several papers which have distinguished
themselves by their virulent opposition to
all pension legislation have recently had
editorials 80 much alike in tone and Ian
guage as to suggest the suspicion that they
were inspired from high quarters. These
have denounced the GAR. as an annex TO
the Republican machine" and declared that
while there are still living at least ! $4,000
men who served honorably in the Union
armies there are less than 100000 Of them
in The GAR. Consequently, the conclusion
is unavoidable that it is only part Of the
Republicans who have entered the Order,
while the mass Of the Democrats and a large
portion Of the Republicans have remained
outside.p
The editorials so on 20 assert that the
Disability Pension Bill is "a Republican
device TO iRjure the Democracy" and TO
urge those Democratic veterans who are in
the Order to withdraw, and those who are
still outside to throw the weight Of their
influence against it,
The stimulus 10 all this is clear to anyone
who thinks a minute. 1t is occasioned 10y
the overwhelming Endorsement by the Posts
OF the country of the Disability Pension Bill
recommended by the GAR. National PEN
sion Committee. The soldieT-haters realize
the necessity Of doing something at once to
break the force Of this splendid unifcation
of the soldiers. Last Winter, Spring and
Summer they relied on vehement protesta-
tons that a majority Of the GAR. were
opposed 10 the measure of relief which the
President vetoed, and that all the demand
for il was the clamor raised by relatively
few deadbeats, bounty-jumpers, cof'ee-cool-
ers pension-shaIks,n etc. Even as hardened
and inscriptions liars as these soldier
haters are, they could not persist in such
statement in face of the fact that Of the
252 800 votes cast more than 250,O00.were in
favor Of it. Hence the present flank move
ment
OF course their present charges are as false
as their previous ones. The GAR. is no
more m annex TO the Republican machine :"
than it is to the Democratic, or the Pro-
hibition machine, or the Henry George move
ment, or the knights of Labor. In every
Post in The country viii be found earnest
and devoted adherents of all these. There
is not a convention OF political meeting Of
any party north Of The Ohio and the Poto-
mac In which men wearing the bronze
badge do not take an active and frequently
controlling part. But in the Post room, at
the Reunion, and in the Encampment politi-
cal divisions are as forgotten as If they did
not exist. No more account is taken Of a
comrades political affiliations than Of his
religious belief OF the color Of his hair. If
he is a candidate for an Office in the Post or
the Encampment, the only questions asked
are Was he a good soldier? Is he a jealous
and active comrade? If he needs assistance
nobody stops to inquire how he voted at any
election. His services TO his country and
r his present necessities are the only things
? considered
! What difference does il make whether the
q hand that in l6Gl-'65 leyeled a Springfield
! rifle at the enemies Of his country now puts
a Democrat, Republican, a Greenback OF a
Prohibition vote into the ballot-box? No
questions rs to his political opinions were
; then asked Of a man who was willing to
stand shoulder 10 shoulder with his com.
rades, confronting line Of charging butter.
Z nuts; none are asked now when he puts
b himself in line with his old comrades under
. the glorious banner of Fraternity, Charity
j and Loyalty. Drenching rain, sleet ant
cold, hardship toll, wounds and death ther
o came alike 10 Wings, Republicans Adolf
: tionists and Democrats. To-day they VIII,
survived are racked by disease and unstrunl
e by old age, without regard to whether they
r are Republicans, Democrats, Prohibitionist
,e OF Labor Reformers There are no part,
= lines in their memories Of the glorious past
nor in their brotherly affection for thos
e who shared its labors and dangers witt
"a them 10 win for the country all that ii en-
70 joys to-day. Comradeship is above part,
i, always. There is very rarely any confic
40 between any mans comradeship and hi
political utilization. Still more rarely is ther
=, 20 any real need Of such conflict, but when
= is forced then comradeship triumphs an
he party goes TO the wall. The veterans Of on
S. party are just as willing TO sacrifice the
20 partisan affiliations as the other. There
81 no great organization Of men in the countr
ny which is so thoroughly non-partisan as IL
~ GAR